By James HoreA SENIOR police officer has defended the level of security at his station after £40,000-worth of Euros was stolen from the building.The money was the proceeds of raids carried out by detectives and was being kept as evidence in a safe at Colchester Police Station.

By James Hore

A SENIOR police officer has defended the level of security at his station after £40,000-worth of Euros was stolen from the building.

The money was the proceeds of raids carried out by detectives and was being kept as evidence in a safe at Colchester Police Station.

Essex Police's professional standards department was brought in to investigate the theft after the money was discovered missing and two civilian members of staff were arrested.

Chief Superintendent Dave Murthwaite, commander of the Colchester police division, said there was not a security problem at the station.

“I am happy that we uncovered the discrepancy within a reasonable amount of time and happy that the measures which were in place restricting access were satisfactory,” he added.

“The security was recently reviewed and we are quite happy that we could not have done any better.”

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said the people arrested by its professional standards department were not serving officers.

She added: “Two women police staff members, not police officers, were arrested on Friday June 18 by officers from the professional standards department and the investigation relates to the theft of money from Colchester Police Station.”

The spokeswoman said the two civilian members of staff had been released on police bail until August 19 and had been suspended from work.

james.hore@eadt.co.uk